Oiling device for washing machines



Sept- 20, 1960 w. scHAMBERs OILNG DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Sept. 25, 1959 INVENTOR. W|LL|AM ScHAMeEzs V-ax/zm ATTORNEY-5 United States Patent oILING DEVICE FoR WASHING MACHINES William 'Schambers, Bay Blvd., P.O. Box 362, Auna Maria, Fla.

Filed Sept. 25, 1959, Ser. No. 842,314

3 Claims. (VCI. 68-23) 'This invention relates to washing machines of the agitator type, and more particularly to au improved structural assembly in la washing machine of the automatic or agitator type with special provisions incorporated therein yfor regularly admitting lubricant to the bearing surfaces associated with the agitator and spin tube of the washing machine.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved structural assembly for the agitator of a washing machine of the automatic type wherein special provision is made to allow the user to lubricate the bear- `ing surface associated with the agitator and spin tube of the machinepin a relatively easy and eilicient manner, the structural elements being relatively simple, being inexpensive -to fabricate, and involving merely the substitution of one of the elements ordinarily provided in a conventional automatic washing machine agitator assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bearing assembly for the agitator and spin tube of an automatic washing machine which is provided with means for readily lubricating the assembly, the arrangement being `such that access to the lubricating opening of the assembly may be obtained merely by removing the clamping cover cap employed to secure the agitator on the drive collar of the machine, whereby the lubricant may be applied to the bearing surfaces of the agitator assembly which ordinarily do not receive lubricant and lwhich therefore are subject to considerable wear and require early replacement in conventional washing machines.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the Afollowing description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure y1 is a perspective view of the agitator and cover cap of a washing machine of the automatic type, the washing machine basket being illustrated in dotted view.

Figure 2 is au enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l, and illustrating an improved means for lubricating the bearings associated with the agitator and `spin tube of the washing machine, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, illustrating the manner in which the hollow retaining stud, in accordance with the present invention, is disposed between the top end of the -agitator driving shaft and the clamping cover cap employed .to secure the agitator on the drive collar of the machine, the parts being shown in separated positions.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the vertical driving shaft of a washing machine of the automatic type employing an oscillating agitator, the agitator being shown at 12 and being integrally 'formed with the top collar portion 13 which has an internal, downwardly aring hexagonal bore 14 non-rotatably and lockingly engaged on a downwardly aring drive collar I15, which fa ,le if:

also hexagonal in horizontal cross section as is well known to those skilled in the art. The drive collar 15 is rigidly secured on the top end of the vertical driving shaft 11 and is held against rotation with respect thereto by a longitudinal key 16 which is integrally formed in the bore 17 of the collar 15 and -which is received in a longitudinal keyway 18 formed in the top portion of the shaft 1v1.

Shaft 11 is rotatably mounted axially in a stationary vertical tubular post 20, which also contains the vertical spin tube 21 arranged concentrically in the tube 20 and located between the shaft 11 and said tube 20. A iirst bearing lsleeve 22 is disposed between the shaft 11 and the spin 'tube 21 and a second bearing sleeve 23 is disposed between the stationary tubular post 20 and the spin tube 21, as shown in Figure 2.

The bracket member 24, shown in dotted view in Figure l, is provided with a vertical upstanding central sleeve portion 25 which is rigidly connected at its top end -to the Itop end of the spin tube 21 through a pair of Ifriction collars 26 and 27 in a manner 'well known to those skilled in the art.

in the `conventional design of the elements above described, namely, the design heretofore employed, a quantity of lubricant is initially provided during the manufacture of the machine, the lubricant being placed in a vertical bore 2S formed in the top end of the shaft 11, whereby the lubricant may be admitted through radial bores 29 and 30 to the respective bearing members 22 and 23. A solid stud is threadedly engaged in the top end of the shaft 11 and is provided with a threaded top end on which is threadedly engaged the removable cover cap 32, which bears on the top rim of the agitator collar 13 to secure the collar 13 on the drive collar 15. The retaining stud is usually provided with a flange 33 at its intermediate portion which clampingly engages on the -top end of the drive collar 15. However, this Stud is usually so tightly engaged that it is quite dilcult to remove same, and ordinarily not the range of skill of the normal user. Therefore, the stud is never removed and consequently the supply of lubricant is normally never replenished. Obviously, after a period of use, lthe bearing members 22 and 23 receive insucient lubricant, causing said bearing members to Iwear and requiring relatively early replacement thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the original retaining stud is eliminated and a hollow retaining stud, Ashown at 35, is employed in place thereof, the stud 35 being provided with the axial bore 36 which opens at the top end of the stud and which is in communicative relationship with the vertical axial bore 28 of the driving shaft 1=1. The hollow stud 35 is provided with -a retaining ange 33 Vat its intermediate portion which clampingly engages the top surface of the drive collar 15, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The cover cap 32 is threadedly engaged on the top portion of the retaining stud 35 above the ilange 33, as shown, and is arranged to exert clamping pressure on the top Surface of the agitator collar member 13.

When the hollow stud 35 is employed, in accordance with the present invention, access to the lubricating bore 28 is easily obtained, since it is merely necessary to remove the cover cap 32, whereby the top end of the communicating vertical bore 36 is exposed, allowing the necessary lubricant to vbe admitted as often as required to properly lubricate the bearing sleeves 22 and 23, as well as the other bearing portions in communication with the spaces adjacent to the outlets of the passages 29 and 30.

Normally, the cover cap 32 is removed to allow 'the agitator 12 to be disengaged from the driving collar 15 to permit cleaning around the basket post element e 2,953,008 K l Y y e 25, and topermit cleaning the bottom portion of the basket normally covered by the agitator 12,` At this time the hollow retaining stud 35 is exposed, providing an opportunity for the user to add lubricant to the verticalV passageA 28, as requiredfftof maintain. proper lubrication ofythe bearingV elements. .associated with the shaft 171` and Vs pintubev 2j1.V The ability 110.1.maintai1g1 proper lubriation of the relatively. innacessible .bearing sleeves 22V 23 -,a11 dA other associated. bearing surfaces thus greatly prolonge. the useful life ofithebeaning elec. meg-lts andwreducesthe. cost of'mantainingtthewashingmachine in proper Working condition.

AWith Sueient lubricant ayalable, not .only ismeohanical Wear on thev bearingv surfaces .Ieduced,.b.1.1t alsosaid bearing. Suraoes are protected against; damage' from rustwater, or'harmiul detergents, employed in, connecnon withV the operation .ofthe. washing machine.

Il be 4ilotetl that the threaded top. end of the retaining Stud; 351isof substantial height, requiring a re-V cess 40 to be provided in .thecoyer cap. 32.1 of. at least corresponding height. Whenthe cover cap 32 isengaged onv the threaded top end portion of the retaining stud 35.ia Substantial. :amount of air is Vtrapped intherecess 4Q, andrtasthecoyer capv isyscrevgedY down intonengagef ment with, the top rim of the. agitator ycollar member.

t 13, the trapped air is compresed :and acts ftogforce the machine.V agitator assembly and 'meansY for lubricatings-ame haslbeen,disclosedY in. the yforegoing description, itA Will be .understood that various modificationsY Within the spirit of the invention mayocur to those4 skilled in the.

art. Tzliereiore, it isintended that no limitationsv be plaoedontbeinvention except ae definedv by the VScope. of the appendil claims.

What is claimedis:

1.. In. awashng maehine,..a. vertical; tubular supporting post. a spin .tubs rotatably mounted in said supporting posta vertical driving Shaft. rotatably mounted Said epinrtube, said `shaft being AProvided with. an. axial lubricatingbore and lateral. passages. .communoating With Said. boreand opening into, .the spin tube, a. drive Collar mounted .onthetop end of, thedriying eindigend. a lianged. retaining Stud threadedly engaged. axially inthe top end of...the.driying shaft. and. elanipinglyengaging Saiddrine collar, said. stud. bring.-l provided withan axial bore communicating with. lsaid rstrnarnniA axial. bore, for. adrnitting lubricant. vinto saidy tirstfnamed. bore...

2. In a washing machine, a vertical tubular supporting poet, a Spin Itube rotatably 11110111.nedv in. Said Supporting post, a vertical driving shaftrotatably mounted Within said spin tube, said shaft being formed with an axial lubricating bore and lateral passages communicating withV said `bore and opening into the spin tube, a drive collar mounted on the top end of the driving shaft, a anged retaining stud threadedly engaged axially in the top end of fthe. driving shaft and clampingly engaging said drive collar, said/ stud being formed with an axial bore oornrnunioatingwithsaid rstananiedfaxialibore, for admitting lubricant into saidiirst-named bore, an agitator supportngly. engaged oipsaid dniive collar, and a removable cover cap threadedly engaged on said stud and elampingly engaging said agitator, Said Cap being formed with a recess receiving the top end of said retaining stud and being yadapted to trap -air in the top end of said last-named bore and to compress the trapped airVV when.; the-.corren cap. is screwed: into. 'clamping engagementiyvith the agitation. whereby o, force. lubriant through said-axial bones.' f

3.Y In. a washing machine, aivertiealtubularsupporting post, a. spin tube; rotatablynmounted;'in-.saidsupporting post, avertioal driving shaft .rotatab.l-y. mounted within said spin tube, said Yshaft beingproyigiedg. Withanaxial.

lubricating. bore. and; lateral-.passages communicating with Saidbore. andopeninginto. thet'snin tube, adriye Collar. mounted'. on the.- top endet-the. driving shaft, aV vertical stud. threadediy engaged axially;V in; the top end of the. driving. shaft; aretaining.- Yii'ange on, the. in-

terni-.odiate portion of Said StudA olampingly engaging.

Said.r drive. -collan Saidst-ud. being .formed with.V an axial bore leonnnunieating ndtb.'Y Said; rstrnanied; arialabore for admitting lubricant. into said; first-namedbore, an.

agitator `supp.ortingly and .nonfrotatably.v engaged. on said drive collar, 'and a removable cover cap threadedly, engagedon-saidA stud aboveaaid. retaining lian-ge andblamningly engaging said agitator, said cap. beingformed; with a receslsreceying thetopfend of; lsaidl retaining; stud and being yadapted to trap air in theptop endg/o'said lastf namedbore andv to .compress the trappednair iwhen the UNTED STATESPATENTS y 1,766,310 schaam g June 24, 1930 2,361,767 Hays ojct. 31, 1944 2,725,118 Ciani Nov. 29, 1955 

